An exhibit documenting the famous aviator's ties to Hawaii will open to the public this weekend.

Her adventurous spirit was admirable and her trail blazing courage - legendary. Now, through exclusive photos the public can see how Hawaii played an important role in the life of Amelia Earhart and aviation history.

"She had a cloud ceiling that she broke, and she opened the path for all the other famous women in aviation," said museum Associate Curator, Jim Goodall.

It's clear Earhart loved Hawaii in black and white photos of her on vacation here, relaxing at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and chatting with Olympic swimmer and renowned surfer Duke Kahanamoku.

It also became her launching pad, becoming the first person to complete a solo flight from Hawaii to California in 1935 and put Hawaii on the map as a not-so-distant location after all.

It later became her training ground for an around-the-world attempt, practicing touch-and-gos at Ford Island.

"She broke her airplane. It crashed not more than a thousand feet from here (the museum)," said Goodall.

She wasn't hurt, and it only made her more determined to complete a global record. Earhart disappeared in July 1937 somewhere over the Pacific just short of achieving her goal. But it's her pioneering spirit the Pacific Aviation Museum hopes to harness through the exhibit and pass along to visitors.

"The Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is about history. It's not just about wars; it's not just about airplanes. It's about people," said Kenneth DeHoff, museum executive director.

"She wasn't born a celebrity. She wasn't born out of a wealthy family. She was just a young girl at the age of 10, who had a dream to learn how to fly," said Goodall.

The Amelia Earhart photo exhibit will be on public display at the Pacific Aviation Museum beginning Sunday.